Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-05
Copyright, 1887.
PART /.

Copyright, 1887.
PART l.
The biacksmiths shop at HIawassee GAP was =
literal cave, halfway up the side OF huge Cliff
Across the roaring ryer, still higher line OF cliffs
extend for mile or 50. rising perpendcularly to
dizzy height, until their corrugated brows rr,ede
into the gently swelling outlines that usually
round out the more southerly SUBMITS OF the
ChiihomeS. narrow road twisted sinuously up
the sides OF the gorge to Sdnd OF basin followed
OUT OK the Oyerhanging rocks, where beneath a
beetling crag, yawned the smithy, its sides. roof
and hoor OF natures own carving while its front
was partially boarded with slabs from the ttttie
sawinin at the mouth OF Greasy creek three miles
above
A small cabin OF split logs, "clay daubed :, and
with ''stick chimney" also nestled near by amid
Truck patch OF half an acre. that occupied all the
available space within this veritable acro-nest'
peering over the precipiee. three hundred feet
above the little ferry and Government StiIl House
below. far-on glimpse OF the broad ridges and
meadows or the Tennessee Valley could be seen
below the Gap; while above, a narrow vista of
wild, blue mountains, seemingly tumbled one
above another, bounded the view towards the
A spring dubbed from cleft in the mountain
ade, which here burst upward into the vast preci-
Under the holiys and oaks thereby was the smiths
wife, batting" clothes upon block, with a
portion or the weeks wash sprtnkling the bushes
James Cheek. her husband, huge slow-mo-
the trail leading from the ferry He paused to ad-
mire his wtfe's plump figure and brisk, supple
movements Wonder had also mingled with his
admiration ever Since,-two years agO-he had
taken her from the great hotel at White Cliff
Springs, where, though only a waitress her airs
and graceS had impressed themselves Jlpoa his
primitive imaginings as those OF a queen in dis
gulSe- wonder that, with her fresh, dark
beauty and v1yaeious manners, she could have
IN IN love oft
He knew but little OF her past, nor had their
welded intimacy added much to his previous
knowledge, except that she was from Nashville,
that her parents We're both dead and that She
alone in the word-had drifted from one employ
ment 10 another down 10 Chattanooga, thence to
the town or Athens. and from there TO her sum-
mer'S berth at White Cliff. The blessed sense OF
relief that comes To a wOrld-tOSSed feminine waif
In the nope or realizing home OF her OWE had
rendered JimS awkward movements, bovine wit
anu simple ways not only endurabe but attractive
20 her. Thus il came about that in TRANSMITTING
him with wonder at his own success she had come
10 share his humble lot with the same grace and
Nvacity that had fascinated him at the great
hotel, whittier the mountain folk were wont 10 re-
sort In rAmShackle vehicles TO dispose OF their
poultry, butter and eggs.
How quickly she had adapted herself to the mar
row, toilsone isolated existence OF the mountains.
'.She RELY talks Jest Like we 'unS," thought Jim.
'She makes Ike US in all her belongings, aud yet,
somehow, she amt nary bit like US, after all.
wonder II hits only make believe, jest ter please
me and that thar young 'un ?"
That thar young IN" the visible result of their
union, was blue-eyed, brOwn-haired baby, scarce
thirteen months Old that now lay asleep upOn its
blankets under a holly bush, while It's mother
sang 10 the resoundinC panirnent OF her pad
Ole In manner conflrmative OF Jirnis reflections:
Some folks say the niesers won't steal.
But ketched seven In my corn-hel;
Pstterol ketch you;
HIT Amos day.
'Durn me, how she can sing, said he to himself,
Ing her. CHANGING up from her work she saw him
there, and m her tmpulSdve way dropped her pad
ole and was at his side in moment.
"Now you're at IL again, said She "yOu great
Dig mountain OF laziness- You've jest got 10 be
punished right here"
The natus. of the punishment belied the severity
OF her words, and consisted In Selling his ears,
pulling his Dig head down TO a level with her own,
and planting sounding smack upon Jims ele-
~who wouldn't be loaferin in sech company"
remarked the proud husband, smacking his lips
about ye Darthuly. Ye never take no time to
Tesk, onct We git started to work. Pears hike We
wW afeerc ter spell yerSelf.-
Listen at this yer man" she replied playfully.
YET With serious droop OF her large black eyes,
.Aint ye alrays a haInmerin' an a blowin in that
thar shop, and shouldn't do my part as wen?
Rely, jim, I'm q master sight better on ter be
busy, and there's man and horse right now at
toe snoP ooor wa3tin fun we, and here We air
Hits the new gauger IS coined last night terthe
ID fore foot Don't ye hurt yourself a worS1n',
honey, test 5ekase We can"
with THIS chronic injunction on his lips, Jim
haSteRed TO the shop. Darthuly looked after
moment. then suffered her gaze TO wander down
% the brawling river below, and upward along the
6e swelling SUBMITS Of the mountains The sun
slaammered upon the distant pines sharply out
nned against the sky above her, while the wind,
WhiStl1ng DOWN the gap from those aerial heights,
0yed with her tumDled curls as its mOnOtonouS
Dngh mingled With the roar Of the waters below
The white steam from the Still House whiried
upward into tnyisibality against the green back
ground Of spruce and mr. cl1ng1ng TO the cliffs The
ankle Of a cow ben foaIed down IRON unseen
a hQy " nm lQ7flvy tn mid
AZ over the widest cragS. Surely, beneath the
yand and the MYERS roar, there was a leathean
Y1amof IN the air, harEoniZng the Savagery of
nature with the peaceful influences of the hour
Was its charm working upon her mind as she
leaned upon the renee, ObltviOuS OF her task; or
had she really given heed 10 Jims admonition ..to
be keerfal" and rest? The sprightly decision of
her face had gwen way TO an expression OF gentle
then her thoughts seemed 10 find disconnected
urserance.
so good, 50 true, 50 watchful OF my cornfortI
Why cannot love him as he does me?"
The mountain dialect had disappeared from her
OF the inconSruLy, Tor In her next murmur 1t was
resumed
'-Hes Just as honest and as open as daylight,
while IL have erbleeged to be Just the other
way" Then, as her feelings again grew more in
tense, she once more became natural. ''GOd knows
don't want 10 De false, yet what will not a poor
woman do for home and sheIter-and love. he
has given me all these, but-what have given
There was soft crushing OF gravel behind her.
she turned suddenly. A medium sized, slender,
young man, having crisp. brown hair, a tawny
musdache, and Keen, grey eyes, stood before her
AS they saw e1ch other his careieSly polite 6auta-
0on was merged In glare OF surprise, and an
amer Smile N exutant pleasure. With a quick
exclamation, she covered her face with one hand
and extended the other as though 10 ward on his
approach
Hweil Neg he said in low, calculat1ve tone
your about the last person expected To meet
here"
As he eyed her, the relentless composure OF his
smile seemed cruel In its contrast TO The agitation
she exhibited, as she finally gasped
~You-yoU here9-
well, yes, Pm here, and dsyinsh surprised to
nun up with you, Neg. But what's your game
nov! Tying the yirtQoQS dodge eh? Making
TINS susceptible elephant OF a blacksmith your
victim, suppose
she raised her face and confronted him with
0taHng eyes At thAS fnuendO.
No THANKS 70 you, Dick Buiord. Think how
oofeu oecaQSe ] WAS once weak enough 10 trust
you"
As this confession slipped from her Inns they
Oanbied under It's influence despite the reyulsi We
anger with which his presence inspired her. His
eye never LETT her face as, playing with his watch
chain, he replied:
"How many had shared your love before came
asoAg! There, there. Don't get excited You
couanS help getting Jealous and when LETT YOU
In Atlanta never thought wed turn up together
again on this footStOol. Yoa wouldn't let ne SO
sUured on IT.
"Why are you here?"
she demanded this in quick peremptory tone
u2Shing glance towards the snithy then fixing
her eyes on his handsome, imperterbaie face
I'm gaGg1li2 Tor The government. Am to be